Vera Maxwell

Vera Huppe Maxwell (April 22, 1901 – January 15, 1995) was an American pioneering sportswear and fashion designer.

[1] As she explained, "When the opera season ended in May, the fashion houses on Seventh Avenue were just opening their collections.

[3] Maxwell gave her clothing distinctively American names like "Daniel Boone" for Western wear.

[3][5] One of her earliest best-sellers was a wrap blouse over a permanently pleated skirt made of Arnel meant for travelers.

[8] Her use of wrap-and-tie closures and supple fabrics suited a range of body types and allowed for weight fluctuations.

[2] Maxwell met Grace Kelly in 1955 when they were both received Neiman Marcus Fashion Awards and she frequently visited the Royal Family in Monaco.

[3] Maxwell designed for First Ladies Rosalynn Carter and Pat Nixon,[2] as well as performers such as Martha Graham and Lillian Gish.

But in the 1960s, her star waned as fashion's attention shifted to swinging London designers like Mary Quant.

[4] In 1975, Maxwell introduced a pull-on dress with a stretch top and no zippers, buttons, snaps or ties.